SCOTTISH Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale faced a stinging backlash after encouraging people north of the border to vote Conservative to keep Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP out.

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Ms Dugdale told voters in the Borders, Highlands and other parts of Scotland that voting Tory was a better way to stop the Scottish National Party than voting for her own party’s candidates.

Speaking on Sky News, the Scottish politician said: “The reality is the vast majority of seats across Scotland, it’s only the Labour party that can beat the SNP.

“There are a few differences in the Borders and the Highlands where the Tories might be better placed but right across Scotland’s centre belt, where the vast majority of Scotland’s population lives, the only party that can beat the SNP is the Labour party.”

But the Scottish Labour leader was criticised on social media for her comments.

Cameron Archibald tweeted: "The fact @kezdugdale thinks it's more important to beat the SNP than to actually replace the current Tory government is beyond tragic."